The Spectrum Advantage
Spectrum Canine’s training is built on the idea that all dogs can be trained, no matter on what side of the spectrum they’re on. That’s why we developed 3 dog training programs that are intended to ensure that both you and your dog find success.
Socialize amongst other pups! Our group lessons are perfect for dogs wanting a social setting.
Get the best out of your pup! Our 1-on-1 training is the best solution for dogs wanting a little extra attention.
Focused attention! Board and train style program where the dog lives with the trainer, in their home.
Get the best out of your pup! Our 1-on-1 training is the best solution for dogs wanting a little extra attention.
Socialize amongst other pups! Our group lessons are perfect for dogs wanting a social setting.
Focused attention! Board and train style program where the dog lives with the trainer, in their home.
Ricky began training dogs at a very young age, starting with participation in a local chapter of the American Kennel Club. Shortly after he began training and raising guide dog puppies for the most well known service dog organization in the country, Guide Dogs for the Blind. It is there that Ricky was able to master his skills in raising a performance/ working dog. From the day puppies were born, every single interaction had a purpose. The dog had a very specific job and Ricky’s job was to train them to the impeccable standard. During this time, Ricky caught wind of a German police dog sport called Schutzhund. He quickly realized that apprehension dogs was his passion and every free second of his day was now invested in Schutzhund. He became one of the youngest members of the United Schutzhund Clubs of America and completed his Basic Helper Certification as well.
A few of his club members were prominent members of the Police Dog community at the time so Ricky was ushered into that environment quickly. Ricky’s experience with high level control and obedience gave him an advantage in the police K9 field. He quickly excelled as handlers saw his extreme quality in obedience and control work. Due to his experience with some of the most powerful working dogs around, Ricky has been very successful in rehabilitating aggressive/reactive dogs as well.
Through the use of his very effective and modern training techniques, Ricky spends his day training pet dogs to be better citizens of the community, counseling sport-dog teams to their highest capabilities and bettering the working relationship between police K9’s and their handlers.
Stephen Leitzell began training dogs at the age of 12 with his own German Shepherd puppy and shortly thereafter began learning and helping with protection dogs and police K9s from a local vendor, spending countless hours volunteering and gaining a better understanding of how to raise puppies, select police K9s, and train them in various tasks including patrol work, detection, and tracking. He has organized multiple training seminars with various talented trainers, including Dutch KNPV national champion Sandra van Zuijlekom and Dutch national level decoy and trainer Renko Ax to further develop his training skills from the best in the world, as well as seeing how they chose dogs to perform at the highest level in the world. He has been involved in various stages of training with hundreds of dogs, from pet and sport dogs, to high level police K9s. He has spent time working with multiple police K9 vendors, and from this experience he has gained insight into the wide array of problems currently plaguing the police K9 industry, and has a strong passion for maintaining an extremely high standard in both the caliber of dogs he chooses and in the training he conducts.
He has also gained a high level of recognition as a skilled decoy, both for police dogs and competition dogs, having conducted decoy training both locally and on the East Coast. He was the first non European to be certified as a trial level helper by the American Politiehond (Police Dog) Association, a rigorous written and hands-on examination which many people had previously failed to pass. Additionally he has attended multiple decoy training camps for the sport of PSA (Protection Sports Association), a highly regarded and respected sport for working dogs in the US. He has also decoyed for numerous police K9 competitions, hosted by the Western States Police K9 Association (WSPCA) and agencies including Stockton, West Sacramento, San Leandro and Lodi, decoying over 30 dogs at each trial. From all of this experience, Stephen Leitzell has a unique ability to build an extremely powerful police K9 that will perform in the most stressful and challenging environments imaginable.
Meryl has been training dogs for 8 years. She got her start riding horses as a young child, and grew up training and competing and was on collegiate teams. She has her B.S. in Animal Science from Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo where her interest in learning theory and behavior began. It was at this time she got her first two personal dogs, both rescues, and she began to develop an affinity for training. After college, she became the on-staff trainer for The Humane Society for Greater Savannah, GA and started her private training business there before coming home to the bay area. Meryl worked for Refined K9 Dog Training based out of San Francisco for 1.5 years and now co owns her own company, Bay Area Balanced Dog Training. Meryl is a member of All Canine Working Dog Club, an elite working dog group in L.A. and travels down multiple times per year to work with the club as continued education. On a nearly annual basis, Meryl also does seminars with Julien Ryckenbush, a national level trainer who resides in France and puts on seminars all over Europe, in Canada, and California. Meryl has a working Cane Corso who competes in multiple sports. He was the number one Cane Corso in the country for dock diving in 2019 with a season average of 21’4” and a personal best of 22’5”. He has his BH and his FPR1 (receiving a 97/100 and high tracking score at the trial)and is hoping to achieve his IGP1 (tracking, obedience, protection), and FH (advanced tracking title) in 2020. He also does barn hunt and has AKC Fast Cat (coursing) titles. Meryl also owns a senior Labrador retriever mix that was her first personal dog, and a rescue pit bull. She specializes in working with large powerful breeds, especially pit bulls after doing pit bull rescue and fostering for over five years. She has also owned a Dogo Argentino mix and fostered Presa Canarios and works with a lot of other Cane Corso.
Dog Obedience Training Sessions
Every dog is a challenge, and we want to make sure we find the best possible training solution for each dog we train. We look forward to working with each owner and dog, and can’t wait to meet both of you.
See What We Do Every Day
Spectrum Canine offers dog training, group dog lessons, private dog lessons across the San Francisco Bay Area. No matter the breed of dog, we can train your lovable pet to reach its highest potential.